tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6477080206627137109.post4221031456044063059..comments2020-06-04T05:01:52.901+01:00Comments on News &amp; Press from The Future Fire: Recommend: Kick-ass women from historyDjibrilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06382333338207409292noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6477080206627137109.post-72480643840416043212017-07-11T22:27:49.147+01:002017-07-11T22:27:49.147+01:00TW:rape
It is so hard to pick only one! Almost ev...TW:rape<br /><br />It is so hard to pick only one! Almost everyday I read something about a great woman and I think &quot;I will recommend her&quot;! There are countless women that I admire and that have inspired me with their courage, strength, brilliance, generosity. But I have chosen to celebrate a tragic episode that someone was able to turn into progressive change for all women. It&#39;s the story of Franca Viola, the young woman that, in 1965 in a small town of rural Sicily, refused to marry Filippo Melodia, the man that had kidnapped and raped her. According to the Italian law and common practice, getting married to the abuser was all a victim of rape could have wanted, and would automatically extinguish the charge. Filippo thought that segregating and violating Franca was the quickest and easiest way to force the young woman to marry him. But Franca stood up and brought the man to court instead. She didn&#39;t let the man&#39;s criminal connections nor the oppressive social pressure to intimidate her. She wanted to see him in jail. She didn&#39;t care that, at the time, being &quot;dishonored&quot; was considered the worst thing that could happen to a woman. She was shamed during the process and had to endure all the usual rhetoric to discredit the victims of sexual violence. But she persisted, and, for the first time in the history of the country, she managed to have the man sentenced to 11 years. Her story had a huge impact on public opinion and contributed to change the legal practice. She was only 17, and she seriously kicked ass.Valeria Vitalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07575266222361802997noreply@blogger.com